Assessing Factors Affecting Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Services in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Cross-sectional Study

Background Cervical cancer is a major global health problem. Cervical cancer kills many women every year, and a huge number of new cases are reported worldwide annually. Huge numbers of deaths occur in lower-resource countries of sub-Saharan Africa. More than half of the global burden falls in areas with lower levels of development, and more than one-fifth of all new cases are diagnosed in different areas. This entirely preventable disease is the second largest cancer killer of women in low and middle-income countries, with most women dying in the prime of life. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess factors affecting the utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women aged 30 to 49 years in Dodoma city. Methodology: The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The population included all women of reproductive age 30–49 years, in the Dodoma city municipality. A total of 86 clients attending screening services in selected facilities participated in an exit interview. Convenience sampling was applied to access information, and finally, the data was analyzed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), version 23. Results The findings indicate that their moderate to low level of Knowledge on cervical cancer screening was influenced by a lack of exposure to the information. Also, the practice of utilization of screening is low as people fear the procedure due to a lack of information about it. The accessibility of cervical cancer screening services is widely distributed, but there is no motivation for people to come and acquire screening services. Conclusion The findings highlighted a lack of knowledge and information on cervical cancer screening that may have contributed to women’s non-attendance at screening.